I run the WTB Dissent 2.5s on my RIP9, if you don't mind the weight, AWESOMENESS! Even in the occasional clay bath they shed, Nevs load up. However Nevs came on my GT Peace 9R SS and they're working fine in most conditions.

Does anyone wanna trade tires? I have 2 Panaracer Rampage 29x2.35 tires and 2 Maxxis Crossmark 29er tires (the crossmark tires have had the round knobs taken off). All four tires have less than 100miles on them. Send me a message!

I guess I should have mentioned that I was looking for 29er size tire suggestions. My bad.

I put tubeless Schwalbe nobby nic (F) and racing ralph (R) on my RIP9 and got exactly one ride in before the rain started. So far so good - but I need a few more rides before I can vouch for the combo. I will say that it felt faster than the Ingnitor/Captain Control combo I had before.

The Specialized combo of purgatory (F) and control (R) 2bliss will be the next combo I try. I hear good things about them.

I just went to the Specialized Purgatory 29x2.2 on my Tallboy from Maxxis Ignitor. I like both of those options much more than Nevegals, but haven''t settled on 'favorite' yet. (still have Nevegals on my Blur) Have the Purgatory's set up tubeless and run them around 30 psi.

Any comparisons from Purgatory to Small Block 8's?

"today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth" Lou Gerhig about baseball or me when I ride

I don't race, I'm still a noob, the biggest problem I seem to be having is my front tire washing out in me tight turns or sometimes on high speed turns. Just seems that the factory tires on my Rocky Mountain Vertex 29er were not really designed for So Cal dust.

I don't race, I'm still a noob, the biggest problem I seem to be having is my front tire washing out in me tight turns or sometimes on high speed turns. Just seems that the factory tires on my Rocky Mountain Vertex 29er were not really designed for So Cal dust.

Tires are definitely part of the equation, but in my experience technique plays a more important role.
My guess is that you are riding off the back too much, and not keeping your weight centered over the bike.

I can confirm this I like having something with a little better rolling resistance on the back, though.

x2....tomac nevegal up front, s-works eskar out back for the rolling resistance. Run higher pressure in the rear too.
Wait... Isn't it damp, and amazing traction out there right now?... Even a panaracer would stick in these conditions..J/K... Panaracers never stick

purgatory seems like an in between between a high roller and a trail king/rubber queen. The 2.4 trail king and rubber queen are really confidence inspiring, but not very fast. I got to ride them on the SRAM 2x10 experience on bikes I've never really rode before and rode features I never dared to attempt on my own bike!

I have one (muddy) ride in on a new Nevegal up front after I blew out a high roller and the first ride was good. Not 100% sold on it yet, but it was certainly an improvement in the corners over my high roller.

Thats because you wear out the transitional knob enough to where the outer knob can dig into the soil. The downside to the nevegals is loose over hardpack, there are too many knobs and not one is able to make a definite bite into the ground. Thats why they are awesome in soft compound, soft, loose and somewhat firm conditions.

By cutting every other transitional knob, you protrude the outer knobs more so they can make a definite grab into the ground. If you look at many other tire designs they copy the Nevegal platform but eliminate every other transitional knob. Great tire.